Rodent exterminator



Aug. 15, 1961 D. PIMENTEL 2,995,852

RODENT EXTERMINATOR Filed Nov. 13, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Deme/r/oP/menIe/ INVENTOR.

Aug. 15, 1961 Filed Nov. 13, 1957 D. PIMENTEL RODENT EXTERMINATOR Fig.2

3 Sheets-Sheet l A A 1/126 I Deme/r/o Hmenfe/ INVENTOR.

Aug. 15, 1961 Filed NOV. 13, 1957 D. PlMENTEL 2,995,862

RODENT EXTERMINATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Deme/r/a Pimeme/ INVENTOR.

United States Patent 2,995,862 RODENT EXTERMINATOR D'emetrio Pimentel,l84 McDougall St., Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed Nov. 13, 1957, Ser. No. 696,1335 Claims. (Cl. 4399) This invention generally relates to a rodentexterminator and more particularly to a trap for electrocuting mice,rats, etc.

A principal object of this invention is an electrocuting device forautomatically electrocuting rodents entering the device.

A further object of this invention is to provide disposal meansforremoving the rodent from an electrocuting chamber to a storage chamber.

A still further object of thisinvention is to provide novel promptingmeans'to hasten the rodent along a path to the'electrocuting chamber.

A still further object of this device is to provide delay meansincorporated in the over-all mechanism to reset the rodent exterminatorfor further use.

A final object of this invention is to provide neat, efficient and rapidmeans for exteirninating rodents which is also fool-proof.

This invention works on the principle that a rodent, seeking food, willenter a trapping compartment that is properly baited. The slightestcontact of the rodent with a lever, at floor level, will close thecontacts of'a microswitch. This switch controls a solenoid which isoperatively connected to the door of the trapping compartment.Furthermore, the switch controls heating elments in the iloorof thetrapping compartment. The hot floor will force the rodent along aceitain'path wherein he will climb a ramp thatleads to an exterminatingcompartment. The rodent in the compartment will step on a lever whichwill actuate a micro-switch that controls a transformer which boosts lowvoltage to a value of 5000 volts. This'high voltage is then impressed onelements in the fioor'of the exterminating compartment which act toelectrocute the rodent. A timer relay shuts ofi the current to thetransformer and at the same time closes the circuit to a sole noidswitch so that the floor of the exterminating compartment is tilted,dropping the'rodent into a storage compartment. A second timer relaywhich was actuated upon the rodents moving the initial lever of thesystem, resets the entire exterminator so that it is prepared to re-'ceive another rodent. The operation of the device completes its entirecycle in sixty seconds.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof; whereinlike numerals refer tolike parts throughout, and'in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of the housing of theinventionillustrating its portability;

FIGURE '2 is'a further perspective view of the invention looking at thehousing from the opposite side and specifically showing the sliding doorleading to the storage-compartment;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the invention taken substantiallyalongthe plane 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE '4 is a sectional view of the invention taken ice ing the variouselectrical elements for actuating the mechanical details illustrated inthe preceding figures.

Referring to FIGURE 1, numeral it generally desig: nates the rodentexterminator having a housing in the form of a rectangular box 12 whichmay be constructed of any rigid material. On one face of the rectangularbox 12 is a handle 14 to lend portability to the exterminator. On anadjacent face is shown an electric plug 16 for supplying electric energyto the device and main switch 18. Above the main switch 18 is shown aswitch 20 and a holder for circuit fuse 22. On the same face is locateda pivotally connected door 24 which pivots about a shaft 26. The door 24controls access to the inner portion of rectangular box 12.

FIGURE 2 shows a second door 28 which is pivotally connected to rotateabout shaft 3%. This door 2.8 acts as an alternate entrance to the innerportion of rectangularbox 12. Each of the doors 24 and 28 areunbalancedabout their pivot points so as to be normally open. A door 32slidably fits in frame 34 and controls access to a storage compartmentwithin. Said storage compartment being designated as 36.

FIGURE 3 shows a rigid coupling 38 which is connected at door 28 atpivotal connection 40' and at door- 24 at pivotal connection 42. Anotherpivotal connec-' tion 44 exists on door 28. Pivotal connection 44 iscoupied by rod 46 to a rotatable member 48. Rotatable= member 48 issupported from the box 10 and lirnitedly rotates about point 50. Therotation is in response to transverse movement of armature 52 ofsolenoid 54. The solenoid 54 is electrically connected to switch 56whichis actuated by lever 58.

Also connected to member 48 is an angle member60 which operates toslidably move the door 62 in frame 64. The door 62 acts as an entranceto electrocuting chamber 66. Also shown in FIGURE 3 is atransformerhousing 68 for a step-up transformer supplying a high volt--ageto the eleotrocuting chamber. A ramp 76 is shownwhich leads from nearthe floor 72 of the housing 12 to a location proximate the entrance 62to the electrocuting chamber 66.

The electrccuting chamber 66 has an insulatedfloor portion 74 in whichare placed exposed conductors 75" and 76 carrying a high voltage. Theconductors 75 and- 76 are insulated from each other by insulated floorportion 74. The floor 74 is fixedly connected to a rod 78 by sleeves 8thflanged at 82. The rod 78 is fixedly attached to collar member 34 as isclearly shown in 'FIG-' URES 4 and 6. The collar fi l'has an extension86 attached thereto having a slotted portion 88 therein which"cooperates with a pin 96. The pin 96 is fixedly attached to an armature92 of a solenoid 94. Spring 93, secured between armature 92 and support95 normally retains the armature 92 in a raised position fornormallymaintaining floor 74 in a horizontal position. The rod -78 isrotatably connected to the rectangular box 12 at its opposite end asat96.

Members 98 and 100 are delay relay means which may, be 6C60 and 6No30respectively; Lever 162 comprises one terminal of a switch whosecontacts become closed upon physical touching by the rodent.

FIGURE 8 shows the electric circuitry involved in-thisinvention. Wherein104 designates the live side of an A.C. line having a main switch 18 andfuse 22 therein. A I. safety element 98 in the form of a normally closeddelay relay is connected to the hot side of the line and therer from toswitch 56. .The switch 56 is of the single-pole double-throw type.Serially connected with the switch 56 is a solenoid coil 132 which actsto pull down movable contacts 103. The primaryside of transformer 112 inhousing 113 will make contact through fixed terminal. 114, movablecontact 108 and lead 116. Also connected" as shown is a test switch 20which is normally opened. Switch 20, when closed, shunts movablecontacts 108 to apply line voltage to transformer primary 110. Resistor113 represents heating elements embedded in the floor 72 of therectangular box 12. The secondary of transformer 112 is designated as120 and is connected to the door solenoid 54 having an armature 52attached thereto. Also connected to the secondary 120 of the transformer112 is a movable contact 121 which is located so as to be controlled bysolenoid coil 122. A pair of contacts of normally open delay relay 100are connected to the secondary 120 of transformer 112 at contact 121 andtherefrom to a solenoid 94 which is mechanically linked to the rod 78and electrocution chamber 66. Connected proximate to solenoid 94 is aswitch 127 which is located so that it will be mechanically opened uponactuation of the solenoid 94. Switch 102 is shown connected leading tocoil 122 and past that to transformer 126 in housing 68 having a lowvoltage primary 128 and a high voltage secondary 130. The high voltagesecondary is shown connected to conductors '75 and 76 on or in the floor74 of the electrocution chamber 66.

In operation, a rodent within the vicinity of the invention will beattracted by a piece of cheese placed within the housing so that he willenter the housing at either door 24 or 28. His path will force him toengage contact 58 of switch 56 at least momentarily which will actuatesolenoid coil 132. It will be apparent that switch 18 and the contact ofnormally closed delay relay 98 must be closed. The actuation of solenoidcoil 132 will move the movable contact 198 to a touching relationshipwith fixed contact 134. A closed path will now exist through solenoidcoil 132 from the hot side 1134 of the AC. line through the main switch18, fuse 22, contacts of delay relay 98, connection 136, switch 127,contact 134, movable contact 108, through relay coil 132 to ground.Therefore, though switch 56 immediately opens after contact, solenoidcoil 132 remains energized. With movable contact 108 touching fixedcontact 134 the line voltage is applied to primary 110 of transformer112. A six volt output results at the secondary 121? of transformer 112and is applied to the delay safety element 98 and to the door solenoid54. The actuation of the door solenoid 54 closes the doors 24 and 28 andopens the door 62 to the electrocution chamber 66. Also simultaneouslyenergized are the heating elements 118 on or in the floor 72 of housing12. An indicator light 119, connected in parallel with the heatingelements 118, lights to indicate the energization thereof. The resultingheat causes the rodent to seek a cooler place whereby he will jump toramp 70 and proceed through the entrance 62 of the electrocution chamber66. In the electrocution chamber the rodent will contact at leastmomentarily, switch 102 thereby completing a circuit through solenoidcoil 122 to place movable contact 121 in electrical contact withterminal 138. The contact between 121 and 138 will energize the coil ofnormally open delay relay 100. It will furthermore energize the primary128 of transformer 126 to supply a high voltage through secondary 130 toconductors 75 and 76.

It is contemplated that the energized coil'of normally open delay relay100 will close the relay contacts after 30 seconds. During this 30seconds the rodent will be subjected to the high voltage of secondary130 of transformer 126 impressed on conductors 75 and 76. At the end ofarbitrary 30 seconds the trap solenoid 94 will be energized whereby rod78 will be rotated through the.

pin 90, slot 88 and collar 84 connection to pivot the floor 74 with rod78 and therefore to drop the rodent into a storage compartment 36. Theenergization of solenoid 94 will also open switch 127 cutting off themechanical failure in the circuit safety element 98 in the form of arelay delay using a suggested arbitrary value of 60 Seconds will openand cut-0E any electrical energy to the solenoid coil 132 and therebylikewise return the circuit to its original condition.

The foregoing is considered as illustrativeonly of the principles of theinvention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An electromechanical rodent exterminator comprising a housingdefining a floor, walls and a top, means in said housing for retaining abait to attract a rodent, the end walls of said housing having entranceopenings formed therein, normally open intermediately pivoted housingdoors in said openings, rigid means pivotally coupling said doors toeach other for common action, an enclosed electrocution chamber in saidhousing, a chamber door associated with said chamber providing entrancethereto, said chamber door operatively connected to said housing doorsand electromechanical means in said housing in operative engagement witheach of said doors for simultaneously closing said housing doors andopening said chamber door, said electromechanical means including a doorcontrol solenoid, and means for actuating said door control solenoid,said last named means including a source of electrical energy and anormally open operating initiation switch connecting said source andsaid door control solenoid, said operating initiation switch includingan actuating lever, said actuating lever disposed in said housingproximate said housing doors, whereupon a rodent entering said housingthrough said housing doors will engage said actuating lever to operatesaid initiation switch for energizing said door control solenoid closingsaid housing doors and opening said chamber door, and a holding circuitconnected to said control solenoid for retaining said control solenoidin an energized state.

2. An electromechanical rodent exterminator comprising a housingdefining a floor, walls and a top, means in said housing for retaining abait to attract a rodent, the end walls of said housing having entranceopenings formed therein, normally open intermediately pivoted housingdoors in said openings, rigid means pivotally coupling said doors toeach other for common action, an enclosed electrocution chamber in saidhousing, a chamber door associated with said chamber providing entrancethereto, said chamber door operatively connected to said housing doorsand electromechanical means in said housing in operative engagement witheach of said doors for simultaneously closing said housing doors andopening said chamber door, said electromechanical means including a'door control solenoid, and means for actuating said door controlsolenoid, said last named means including a source of electrical energyand a normally open operating initiation switch connecting said sourceand said door control solenoid, said operating initiation switchincluding an actuating lever, said actuating lever disposed in saidhousing proximate said housing doors, whereupon a rodent entering saidhousing through said housing doors will engage said actuating lever tooperate said initiation switch for energizing said door con trolsolenoid closing said housing doors and opening said chamber door, and aholding circuit connected to said control solenoid for retaining saidcontrol solenoid in an energized state, prompting means in said housing,said prompting means including heating elements disposed in said housingfloor, said holding circuit connected to said prompting means forenergizing said heating elements.

3. An electromechanical rodent exterminator comprising a housingdefining a floor, walls and a top,

means on said housing for retaining a bait to attract a rodent, the endwalls of said housing having entrance openings formed therein, normallyopen intermediately pivoted housing doors in said openings, rigid meanspivotally coupling said doors to each other for common action, anenclosed electrocution chamber in said housing, a chamber doorassociated with said chamber providing entrance thereto, said chamberdoor operatively connected to said housing doors and electromechanicalmeans in said housing in operative engagement with each of said doorsfor simultaneously closing said housing doors and opening said chamberdoor, said electromechanical means including a door control solenoid,and means for actuating said door control solenoid, said last namedmeans including a source of electrical energy and a normally openoperating initiation switch connecting said source and said door controlsolenoid, said operating initiation switch including an actuating lever,said actuating lever disposed in said housing proximate said housingdoors, whereupon a rodent entering said housing through said housingdoors will engage said actuating lever to operate said initiation switchfor energizing said door control solenoid closing said housing doors andopening said chamber door, and a holding circuit connected to saidcontrol solenoid for retaining said control solenoid in an energizedstate, prompting means in said housing, said prompting means includingheating elements disposed in said housing floor, said holding circuitconnected to said prompting means for energizing said heating elements,a ramp extending from said housing floor to said chamber door, saidprompting means urging said rodent along said ramp and into saidchamber, said chamber having a floor portion therein, and exposed highvoltage conductors carried by said floor portion, a normally openelectrocuting switch, said electrocuting switch disposed in said chamberadapted to be closed by said rodent, said electrocuting switchoperatively connected to said high voltage conductors for actuating sameand operatively connected to said control solenoid for deenergizing saidsolenoid to close said chamber door.

4. An electromechanical rodent exterminator comprising a housingdefining a floor, walls and a top, means on said housing for retaining abait to attract a rodent, the end walls of said housing having entranceopenings formed therein, normally open intermediately pivoted housingdoors in said openings, rigid means pivotally coupling said doors toeach other for common action, an enclosed electrocution chamber in saidhousing, a chamber door associated with said chamber providing entrancethereto, said chamber door operatively connected to said housing doorsand electromechanical means in said housing in operative engagement witheach of said doors for simultaneously closing said housing doors andopening said chamber door, said electromechanical means including a doorcontrol solenoid, and means for actuating said door control solenoid,said last named means including a source of electrical energy and anormally open operating initiation switch connecting said source andsaid door control solenoid, said operating initiation switch includingan actuating lever, said actuating lever disposed in said housingproximate said housing doors, whereupon a rodent entering said housingthrough said housing doors will engage said actuating lever to operatesaid initiation switch for energizing said door control solenoid closingsaid housing doors and opening said chamber door, and a holding circuitconnected to said control solenoid for retaining said control solenoidin an energized state, prompting means in said housing, said promptingmeans including heating elements disposed in said housing door, saidholding circuit connected to said prompting means for energizing saidheating elements, a ramp extending from said housing floor to saidchamber door, said prompting means urging said rodent along said rampand into said chamber, said chamber having a floor portion therein, andexposed high voltage conductors carried by said floor portion, anormally open electrocuting switch, said electrocuting switch disposedin. said chamber adapted to be closed by said rodent, said electrocutin"switch operatively connected to said high voltage conductors foractuating same and operatively connected to said control solenoid fordeenergizing said solenoid to close said charnber door, said chamberfloor portion being intermediately pivotally mounted, a storagecompartment beneath said chamber floor portion, and disposal means forpivoting said chamber floor portion to dispose a rodent into saidcompartment, said disposal means including a first time delay relay. g

5. An electromechanical rodent exterminator comprising a housingdefining a floor, walls and a top, means on said housing for retaining abait to attract a rodent, the end walls of said housing having entranceopenings formed therein, normally open intermediately pivoted housingdoors in said openings, rigid means pivotally coupling said doors toeach other for common action, an enclosed electrocution chamber in saidhousing, a chamber door associated with said chamber providing entrancethereto, said chamber door operatively connected to said housing doorsand electromechanical means in said housing in operative engagement witheach of said doors for simultaneously closing said housing doors andopening said chamber door, said electromechanical means including a doorcontrol solenoid, and means for actuating said door control solenoid,said last named means including a source of electrical energy and anormally open operating initiation switch connecting said source andsaid door control solenoid, said operating initiation switch includingan actuating lever, said actuating lever disposed in said housingproximate said housing doors, whereupon a rodent entering said housingthrough said housing doors will engage said actuating lever to operatesaid initiation switch for energizing said door control solenoid closingsaid housing doors and opening said chamber door, and a holding circuitconnected to said control solenoid for retaining said control solenoidin an energized state, prompting means in said housing, said promptingmeans including heating elements disposed in said housing floor, saidelectrocuting switch disposed in said chamber adapted to be closed bysaid rodent, said electrocuting switch operatively connected to saidhigh voltage conductors for actuating same and operatively connected tosaid control solenoid for deenergizing said solenoid to close saidchamber door, said chamber floor portion being intermediately pivotallymounted, a storage compartment beneath said chamber floor portion, anddisposal means for pivoting said chamber floor portion to dispose arodent into said compartment, said disposal means including a first timedelay relay, and a second time delay relay for returning said entireexterminator to its original condition a predetermined time afteroperation of said operating initiation switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

